HIGH ORDER REVELLED IN CONDITIONS AT LEVIN

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 June 1948, Page 3

HIGH ORDER REVELLED IN CONDITIONS AT LEVIN

Win In President's Handicap Was First Success In Two Years

Though he had not won a race for nearly two years, High Order was installed an each-way favourite for the President’s Handicap, principal event at the Levin meeting on Saturday. With W. J. Broughton in the saddle, High Order duly won after ieadinv all the way, and the dividends which his supporters shared, though generous for a favourite, would, probably be considered scarcely sufficient to compensate for a wait of a couple of years. Conditions at Levin on Satur- , -

day were entirely to the liking of High Order, who has proved himself a mudlark. Rain during the week and on the morning of thq races had made th.? track soft and it had cut up considerably when the main event was run. In addition, the going was rather tricky on some of the several turns on this pear-shaped track, and probably for this reason Broughton had High Order in front all the way. High Order was an acceptor for the Foxton Cup a week earlier, and the prospects were that he would have been a well-supported candidate had he fulfilled his engagement. But when the numbers went up on the board High Order's name was missing. This may have led to such strong support as was accorded him at Levin, where 1725 10s (win) and £619 (place) was invested on his chances, as against £514 and £545 on Morotai, second favourite. Second Seal, who finished second, had £152 10s and £234 against his number, and the third horse, Precedency, carried £513 and £516, as against £453 and £522 on Audacious. At no stage were backers of High Order in danger of losing interest in the race, for Broughton jumped him out smartly and was clear as the field ran out of the straight. Thereafter he set the pace as he wished, steadied his charge in the back stretch and round the home turn, and then came away when a challenge from Second Seal threatened danger. At the finish he was three ienglhs clear, with his mount doing it comfortably. On such a display High Order may be expected to win more important races when the conditions are again to his liking. High Order is a five-year-old gelding by Ninth Duke from Mundane, a mare by Acre from Unison, by Valkyrian from Chime, by Royal Fusilier from La Cloche, by St. Leger. He is raced by Mr. D. J. Bar.ow, of Johnsonville, for whom he is trained at Trentham by P. Burgess. High Order was having his twelfth start of the current season, during which he had only twice been placed. Last season he ran some good races without scoring a win. He was third in the President’s Handicap at Blenheim, fourth in the Nelson Cup and second in the Redwood Memorial at Nelson. Twice at the Manawatu winter meeting he filled the role of run-ner-up, being beaten a short neck by Tremello in the Manawatu Winter Cup, with Robin’s Reward a nose away, and beaten three lengths by Young Trent in the Hokowhitu Handicap. As a three-year-old in the 1945-46 season High Order won the Champion Hack Handicap at the Marlborough meeting at Blenheim and the Belmont Handicap at Trentham, scoring in the latter event by four lengths and returning a big price. He made his mark eariy in open company, being awarded first place in the Rere Nikitini Memorial at Otaki when the placings were reversed after Silver Rod had beaten him by a nose. In the Manawatu Handicap at the second Awapuni winter meeting High Order beat Ganges by a neck, with United Nations a head away and Flyihg Tor fourth. In addition that season he had four minor placings, fully paying his way. Form at the Egmont winter meeting suggested that Second Seal would be found improving at an early date, and his forward display in the President’s Handicap at Levin was not altogether unexpected. Backers of the Revelation horse secured a generous place dividend. Second Seal was always handily placed, and at the halfmile he was in behind Precedency, Lord Theio and Yandra as this trio followed High Order. Second Seal still further improved his position crossing the top and in the straight he was doing it better than Precedency to take second place. The racing he has had at Hawera and Woodvil.e has effected considerable improvement in Precedency, and the Tiderace gelding was running on strongly at the finish. He should be suited by the Wanganu. track and is likely to be one of the favoured division in the Connolly Handicap. Audacious was the medium of confident support in the President’s Handicap, and this was justified by the Baffles mare’s good showing. She was not too well placed in the early stages, and six furlongs from home she was one of the last of the big field. From there on she improved her position and was actually fourth into the straight. She covered some extra ground on the journey and on a heavy track she would have to nr considered. Morotai's win at Otaki two weeks earlier suggested that she would have a good chance at Levin, but the Bulandshar mare had a big task ahead of her when she tailed the field out of the straight. It was not till the field was in line for the judge that the Bulandshar mare was able to make any impression, but she came home strongly to be aimost in line with the third and fourth horses. The tricky going was apparently not to her liking. Rest of the remainder in the President’s Handicap field were Master Raymond and Hormuz. Yandra dropped out of the picture in the straight, and the Aucklander Mallee and the veteran Langue d’Or were never likely, being the last to finish.